Nineteenth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, 29 October 1 November 2012 Challenges and Potentials of Place Based Information Management in Nepal" Krishna Raj B.C. Joint Secretary Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Nepal krishnabc@hotmail.com
Presentation Outline The Country Context Geospatial Information Management: Changing roles Place based information.. Why it matters? Survey Department and its role Prevailing Geospatial Information Management Policy Challenges Opportunities Conclusion
Nepal Nepal, the Federal Democratic Republic Country nestled between India & China rests at the foot of the mighty Himalayas.
Nepal Home of Mount Everest Nepal is home to some of the world s highest mountain peaks, including Mt. Everest (8848 meters).
Nepal Home of Buddha Lumbini Lumbini- Birthplace of Buddha
Kathmandu, the Capital... is the city of Temples Kathmandu is the home to living goddess Kumari, city of the temples, city of the festivals, city of the traditional architecture and famous for the world s heritage sites including Swambhunath and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Nepal...Heavenly country side
Nepal.Economic Growth rate Source: Central bureau of statistics
Nepal.. Poverty Index
Nepal.. Investment scenario (2009-2013) 80000000 Rs. in T H O U S A N D 70000000 60000000 50000000 40000000 30000000 20000000 10000000 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 0 Source: Ministry of Finance
Geospatial information Management.. Changing roles Changing roles: National Mapping and Cadastral Agency National Geospatial Authority National SDI. Creating Challenges for NMAs Growing capabilities of private sectors in geospatial information development and location based services Opportunity for Geospatial business Rapid advancement in Geospatial technology Business model is changing: The value of geospatial information is more widely recognizing Customers are demanding more diversified products Customers are demanding greater access to the geospatial data. Collaboration and sharing For effective use and management of geospatial information and place based information to solve geographic problems in a smart way.
Place based information.. Why it matters? Place-based data Spatial box with definitions: (Source: Lawrence, 2011) Framework/ Fundamental Data Such place based information are more useful to understand where problems are and how to provide a quick response?
Survey Department.. National Mapping Agency National Mapping Agency Regulating, Monitoring and Coordinating Mapping and Geospatial information activities in the country About 2,480 permanent staff nationwide Topographical Surveying Activities Geodetic Surveying Activities Cadastral Surveying Activities First Registration / Cadastral Resurveying International Boundary Surveys and Maintenance
Survey Department.. available datasets Number of sheets 563 Map Scale 1:25 000 Number of sheets 119 Map Scale 1:50 000 NATIONAL TOPOGRAPHICAL DATABASE /MAPS Terai and Middle hills (scale 1:25000) High hills and Himalayas (scale 1:50000) NEPAL National Geographic Information Infrastructure Programme, NGIIP Orthophoto Map Index ORTHO- PHOTO MAPS /AERIAL PHO GRAPHS LEGEND 1 : 5 000 orthophoto mapping area 1 : 10 000 orthophoto mapping area Both scales
Survey Department.. available datasets NATIONWIDE COVERAGE OF CADASTRAL MAP
Survey Department.. available datasets SETTLEMENT DATABASE ROAD NETWORK DATABASE
Survey Department.. available datasets DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL SOCIO ECONOKIC ATLAS NATIONWIDE COVERAGE OF GEODETIC CONTROL NETWORKS HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, AIRBORNE GRAVITY LAND RESOURCE MAPS ADMINISTRATIVE MAPS GEOLOGICAL MAPS SOIL MAPS PHYSOLOGICAL MAPS GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
Survey Department.. Nodal Agency for NSDI National Geographic Information Infrastructure (NGII) has been established under NMO in 2000 and making its continued effort is establishing functional NSDI. Working in the direction of establishing data sharing mechanism.
NGII portal.. access to Geospatial information Select By Geography Indicator selection Log in & Register Search By location By themes Downloads
Survey Department.. as a regulatory body The Department is gradually changing its role of providing surveying and mapping services in the country to assuming a lead role in regulating the national surveying and mapping, and geospatial activities. Any geospatial information produced with public fund should be based on the standard and specifications set by the Survey Department Any geospatial information produced by any public or private organization should be approved by National Mapping Committee/ technical sub committee constituted under the National Mapping Committee.
Prevailing Geospatial Information Management Policy.. No integrated Policy for geospatial information management, Pricing policy Every data is charged but the price is determined case by case and agency by agency Free of charge only with the government s cabinet decision even for a public organization No data restriction except that of international boundary. Human Resource Development policy Land Management Training Center (a public organization) Kathmandu University for undergraduate (BE Geomatics ) course Tribhuwan University has recently started undergraduate (BE Geomatics )
Emerging Trend third sector production of placedinformation Citizens excitement in the production and use of place based information OpenStreetMap is more detailed than any other source available in Nepal Also creates issues such as privacy, data quality, standardization Closely observing this new trend and this new trend has policy implication.
Challenges Updating of Framework and geospatial datasets to fulfill the customers need. Creating Policy/ Political awareness to the change process and the deeper utilization of Geo-ICTs policy in decision making. Capacity and capability development Institutional (physical and technological infrastructure ) Human capacity and professional development
Opportunities Nepal is in political transition, use of place-based information for restructuring and demarcation of federal states in terms of economic and geographic sustainability. Agriculture sector plays a critical role in the economy as this sector contributes about one third to GDP, and two-third of its population depend on it for their employment and livelihood, the place-based information will greatly help. Nepal is rich in cultural heritage, natural beauty, thus effective use of place based information will greatly help to promote tourism. Huge potentiality of hydropower and thus place based information will be useful to national development economic growth of the country. Land slides and Flooding is very common, thus place based information will greatly help in disaster management.
Conclusion Nepal is still at an early stage of place based information management. Changing role of the Government and advancement in ICT and spatial technologies is leading towards public-private partnership for better geospatial information management. Government s emphasis on e-government development, Growing awareness to use of geospatial information in planning and decision making process and will greatly help in the promotion of tourism, hydro power etc for the future economic and sustainable development of the nation. Technology transfer with Capacity and professional development in terms of individual and institutional are the key phenomena for optimizing the place based information management.
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